Weird experience at Jollywood last night

[CAPSLOCK]

Others will ask if you would take a picture of their mobility device, and I would say yes you might if it had blinking lights and a Christmas Sweater!

This is the answer. She intentionally made him a spectacle, not related to his service functions. If she doesn't want him to draw attention and possibly be photographed, she shouldn't put him in a costume.

I bet she yelled at lots of people last night. Her own fault. I hope she realized that dressing him up was dumb based on her expectations that no one should photograph him.

 

[lowlight]

Based on your description, I seriously doubt it was a true service dog vs a pet but that is just my view.

Yes, that was my guess as well. If she were doing something wrong, her reaction to being photographed in the act makes more sense. Either way, sorry that OP had their night ruined over something so innocent, those tickets are expensive.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Comments seem to run the gamut here.

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[2vets]

I had no idea this was such a thing. It’s sad that so many of these responses reference people snarking or making viral videos. All that said, this dog was not wearing a service vest, that I could appreciate (though obviously he was in a theme park, so I knew). He was wearing a costume, for all intents and purposes, so I’d never have predicted her response. She could have told me she didn’t want me to take a photo, and I’d have apologized profusely and wished her a good night. But the yelling. Anyways, I have my answer. Thank you all.

 

[imbelle]

I'm guessing that while most dogs would be oblivious to having their picture taken, they might become anxious when they hear their owner yelling and screaming.

 

[Genie+]

We have actual law and social contracts.

Law in this case is pretty black and white. Part of the ticket fine print to enter WDW parks and events typically state you might end up in other people’s pictures, after all you are in a public place. Nobody has the right to demand to be excluded from someone else’s normal picture taking activities. It would take an additional layer of circumstances that are illegal beyond the initial picture taking (indecency, harassment, slander, etc).

Social contracts are more of a grey area - for good reason. In a culture that heavily values freedom, it’s not easy to restrict things that don’t directly harm others. More importantly though, social contracts are a 2 way street. We cannot expect people to act tolerantly or considerately when we are not willing to also do so ourselves. Doesn’t work.

The lady with the dog can’t have it both ways - expecting everyone to conform to her version of a social contract while at the same time violating other commonly shared ‘social contracts’, like not aggressively berating others in public.

 

[focusondisney]

All that said, this dog was not wearing a service vest, that I could appreciate (though obviously he was in a theme park, so I knew).

He wasn’t even wearing a service vest?? Makes me think even more he isn’t a service dog at all. Maybe an emotional support animal, but I doubt even that. And even if he is, emotional support dogs aren’t allowed in the parks. Dressing him in a Christmas sweater & lights?? Someone begging for attention. On the very slim chance he is a service dog, decorating him like that certainly doesn’t let anyone else know he’s “working” & should be left alone. And the lights alone could distract him from his assigned task. My other thought is, how did she even know you were taking a picture of her dog? There’s so much else going on everywhere at WDW, especially at something like Jollywood Nights, you could have been taking a picture of anything. My guess, she lied about him being a service dog to get him in. Didn’t want any evidence of him being in the park. Just in case you posted his picture online somewhere & people who know her IRL saw it & questioned her.

Edit to add… I’m really sorry woman was so rude & nasty to you. Ot definitely wasn’t deserved.